BNP today paid homage to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing a wreath at the National Martyrs’ Memorial, marking Independence Day, and took a vow to continue its movement for the “restoration of democracy and voting rights of people”.
Party leaders and activists, led by its Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, placed the wreath at the altar of the memorial at Savar in the morning.
After placing the wreath, they stood in solemn silence for a while in memory of the martyrs of the Liberation War.
Later, talking to reporters, Fakhrul said the Liberation War began in 1971 through the “proclamation of independence by BNP founder Ziaur Rahman”.
“The independence of Bangladesh was achieved through nine months of bloody struggle. We participated in the Liberation War with a dream and hope of building a democratic state. Unfortunately, even after 52 years of independence, people are sacrificing their lives and carrying on a struggle for democracy,” he said.
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The BNP leader said people have lost their right to speak and right to vote while journalists have lost their right to write the truth as an “authoritarian government” has been established in the country.
He bemoaned that their party chairperson Khaleda Zia was jailed as she started a movement for the “restoration of democracy” while over 35 lakh opposition leaders and activists have been harassed by implicating them in “false” cases.
On this Independence Day, Fakhrul said their party leaders and activists took a vow that they will continue the movement that they have started to “bring back democracy, the right to vote, to bring the prices of essential commodities at a tolerable level and to turn Bangladesh into a truly democratic state.”
Later, they went to BNP founder Ziaur Rahman's grave at Sher-e Bangla Nagar and placed a wreath there.
They also offered munajat there seeking the salvation of Zia's departed soul.
BNP standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Vice-chairmen Barrister Shahjahan Omar, party’s Dhaka south city unit convener Abdus Salam, Dhaka north city unit convener Abdus Salam, joint secretaries general Khairul Kabir Khokon, Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel, among others were present.
Earlier in the morning, BNP hoisted the national and the party flags atop its offices, including the Nayapaltan central one, on the occasion.
The party arranged a discussion on Saturday at Mohanagar Natya Mancha, marking the day.
On March 16, the party chalked out a 10-day day program to celebrate Independence Day.
On March 27, Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal, the freedom fighters' wing of BNP, will organize a “mass gathering of freedom fighters” in front of BNP's Nayapaltan central office.
Besides, the party's different units and associate bodies also took various programmes, including discussions, to mark the day.